Jean Adrien Philippe (16 April 1815, La Bazoche-Gouet, Eure-et-Loir – 5 January 1894) was a French horologist and cofounder of watchmaker Patek Philippe & Co. of Geneva, Switzerland.[1]
In 1842, Adrien Philippe invented a mechanism for watches which allowed them to be wound and set by means of a crown rather than a key.[2] His patented invention earned him a Bronze Medal at the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 (World's Fair).[1][3] At the Exhibition, Adrien Philippe first met Antoni Patek and a year later became head watchmaker at Patek & Co. in Geneva under an agreement that entitled him to one third of all company profits.
Adrien Philippe proved to be very capable at his craft and a product innovator whose value to the firm was such that by 1851 he was made a full partner and the firm began operating as Patek Philippe & Co. In 1863 he published a book in Geneva and Paris on the workings of pocket watches titled Les montres sans clef.
References
- Patek Philippe Watches (Volume I) - Patek Philippe Museum Patek Philippe^
- Philippe, Jean Adrien hls-dhs-dss.ch, retrieved 2025-01-24^
- PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe SA, retrieved 2019-02-23^